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Help preparing for performance in a week
My future sister in law asked me to play Canon in D at her
wedding on acoustic guitar. For me it is a fairly difficult piece,
but playable if I practice. Unfortunately she only gave me three
months to prepare, I agreed anyway thinking that at the time
that it I would have enough time. Also I'd be able to have
tablature with me to look at while I play.
I have been practicing the piece regularly, and I can play it all the
way through currently at about 80 percent speed - it's 70bpm -
with a lot of dead notes and a few flubs. The wedding is in a
week. I don't have many obligations and can practice most of
the time til the wedding, but I'm starting to get worried that I will
not have enough time to get the piece to come together.
When I play at a high speed, I make a lot of flubs and dead
notes. So I play slower, or with no tempo - and my goal is to
play the piece without flubs. Most of the time, I can get through
it at a slower tempo, but even at a slow tempo it is not right.
The legato notes and such are a little off.
Any suggestions on the best practice strategy? This is fairly
urgent and I appreciate any help! Thank you!
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Re: Help preparing for performance in a week
7/11/2011 8:26 PM
Warren Hunt (5714) wrote:
Find the bars where you are having trouble and work from there one by one until you can knock them over without any errors.
If you can try to use a metronome at the correct speed while trying to work out the hard bars. Keep the tune in your head and imagine the tab in your head and your fingers working on the strings.
Most important on the day if you do make a mistake just keep going and have a look on your face that shows the guests you meant to make that note and it was no error.
The last thing is keep practicing until the deadline, but dont get obsessed by the piece. If you find your making silly mistakes due to being tired of the piece have a break or play something else for a short while.
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Re: Help preparing for performance in a week
7/12/2011 2:28 PM
Randy Hano (12045) wrote:
Continue to work at it concentrating on improving the problem spots. Alot of it is mind over matter and since you might be a little stressed you will need to learn to relax.
1) Can you hear the song in your head?
If not, try to.
2) Are forcing passages?
Let it flow.
3) Have you performed the piece outside of where you practice it?
If not, get a couple of close friends and play it for them. You will forget about your issues but the more you play for somebody else, it will be easy when that day comes.
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Re: Help preparing for performance in a week
7/13/2011 7:59 AM
Ken Richardson (9027) wrote:
"If not, get a couple of close friends and play it for them. You will forget about your issues but the more you play for somebody else, it will be easy when that day comes."
Thats some good solid advice too!
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Re: Help preparing for performance in a week
7/14/2011 10:39 AM
Chris Bond II (2667) wrote:
As said before, Isolate any trouble spots. Practice at least six hours
a day. If charlie parker could do it for 3 years at 10 to 16 hours a
day, you can manage 6
Use a capo. It wont be in D any longer, but who will know? it will
make it easier to play. I suggest the 2nd fret placement.
Don;
t be afraid, or dwell on mistakes, just plug away.
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Re: Help preparing for performance in a week
7/20/2011 9:45 PM
Redmond Militante (957) wrote:
I actually did pretty well. I 'crammed' for a week straight but at the
end of the week I was able to play a decent version. I'll probably
keep playing it til I get it perfect. Thanks all.
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